Container filling apparatus



June 26, 1962 c. E. SHEETZ 3,040,326

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS I Filed Aug. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IE 1 INVENTOR CHARLES E. SH E ETZ ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 Filed Aug. 28, 1958 C. E. SHEETZ CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 T'IE 2 Oooooooocooooonfl ooooooo INVENTOR CHARLES E. SHEETZ ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 c. E. SHEETZ 3,040,826

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TIE'| -'El Ocwo0Ol'mooocoooomo INVENTOR CHARLES E. SHEETZ ATTORNEY June 26, C E. SHEETZ CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 28, 1958 TIl3 4 F'II3 E INVENTOR CHARLES E. SHEETZ ATTORNEY carton. delivering cartons to be fille'd (one-carton being indicated United States Patent 3,040,826 CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS v Charles E. Sheetz, Woodstock, Va., assignor to FMC Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 28, 1958, Set. No. 757,833 '2 Claims. (Cl. 177-117) The present invention relates to material or article handling, and more particularly to apparatusfor filling a predetermined quantity of bulk material into each of a succession of containers.

An object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for handling bulk materials.

Another object is to provide an improved container filling apparatus.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for supplying bulk material or articles to a container filling machine or other apparatus.

Another object is to provide an" improved mechanism for inactivating an apparatus whereby bulk material or articles are supplied to processing equipment such as a container filling machine.

Another object is to provide a material supply arresting mechanism which is automatically made operative when a predetermined quantity of the material, such as a container load of a certain weight, has been delivered by the supply mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide container filling apparatus which is of low cost and requires minimum attendance in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for continuously filling articles into containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for fill-ling articles into containers with minimum danger of injury to the articles being handled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for the filling of a uniform, predetermined Weight of articles into each of a succession of containers.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the container filling apparatus of the invention in readinessfor receipt of a container to be filled.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal medial section of the apparatus of FIG. 1 after a container has been received and filled.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the apparatus during discharge of the filled container.

FIG.- 4 is a verticalsection along lines 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section along lines 5-'5 of FIG. 4.

6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connections included in the apparatus of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particular 13 to FIGURE 1, apparatus isshown for filling articles such as apples or other fruitinto a container, e.=g. a wood or fibreboard The apparatus comprises a conveyor 10 for at 1'1 a cradle 12 which receives the cartons in succession the conveyor 10 and supports each carton individually while it is filled from a chute extension 14; .a conveyor 16 for carrying away the filled cartons; and a chute 1 8 for supplying'articles to the chute extension 14.

The elements of the apparatus are mounted on a frame structure 20'.

The conveyor 10 is inclined downward into the apparatils and is provided with roller's' for'the gtavitation therealong of the cartons Two bars 21 mounted "respmfinely at: the sides-of the conveyo'rzlo and curv-ing downwar-dly beyond the discharge end. thereof guide the cartons into the cradle 12.

46, being secured at its other end thereto.

ice

The cradle 12 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 22 journaled at its ends in suitable side members of the frame structure 20, and is shown in FIG. I in its position in which carton 11 is received from the conveyor 10' and filling of the carton from the hopper 14 is initiated. The cradle 12 is formed at its base of two longitudinally extending, spaced parallel bars 24 and 24 and a fiat plate 26 extending therebetween. As best shown in FIG. 2, an angle member 27 is welded at its ends to the lower ends of the bars 24 and 24, respectively, and welded to its outwardly extending flange are two spaced upstanding plates 28 and 28'. Secured respectively to the upper ends of the bars 24 and 24' are two parallel bars 29 and 29', which extend upward from the bars 24 and 24' perpendicularly thereto, and which at their lower ends support the cradle on the pivot shaft 22. Two parallel bars 30 and 30 are welded to the inner surfaces of the plates 28 and 28', respectively, and extend upward and obliquely outward therefrom. Thus, the two bars 30- and 30 lie in a plane that is not quite parallel to that occupied by the bars 29 and 29', but which diverges therefrom in the direction in which all four bars project from the base bars 24, 24', as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, it will be seen that the cradle 12 is connected to two counterweights 32 and 32' (FIG. 4) mounted respectively at the outer ends of two chains 34 and 34' which are trained over rotatable sprockets 36 and 36' (FIGS. 2 and 4) mounted on the. frame structure 20, and which at their inner ends (FIGS. 2 and 3) are secured to the bars 29 and 29, respectively. Two additional counterweights 38 and 38' (FIGS. 14) are adjustably mounted upon two forwardly extending rods 40 and 40", respectively, said rods being secured at their upper ends to the outer ends of a horizontal pivot shaft 42 mounted on the frame structure 20 a short distance below the pivot shaft 22. Two sprocket wheels 44 and 44 are mounted respectively at the ends of the pivot shaft 22, and two sprocket wheels '46 and 46' are mounted respectively at the ends of the pivot shaft 42. Adjacent sprocket wheels 44, 46 and 44, 46 are interconnected by a chain, the two chains 48 and 48' each being trained in opposite directions around the associated sprockets, as seen in FIG. 1. The upper portion of each chain passes part of the way around the associated sprocket wheel 44 or 44, and is secured at one end thereto, while the lower portion of the chain passes part of the" way around the associated sprocket Wheel 46 or It will be clear that, as a result of the chain and. sprocket connection, rotation of the pivot shaft 22 in one direction will produce rotation of the pivot shaft 42 in the opposite direction. After a carton 11 is received by the cradle 12, and as the weight of its contents increases during filling thereof from the chute extension 14, the cradle will pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, causing the sprocket wheels 44 and 44 to rotate in the same direction. As a consequencathe sprocket wheels 46 and 46' will rotate in a clockwise direction, causing the rods 49 and 40 and counterweights 38 and 38 carried thereby to likewise pivot in a clockwise direction. It will be clear that adjustment of the positions of the c0unterweights'3'8 and 38 on the rods 40 and 40 will determine the rate of pivotal movement of the cradle for a given rate of flow .of articles thereinto from the hopper '14. An adjustable stop member 49 mounted on the frame structure 20 (FIG; 1) terminates the downward movement of the cradle when the angle member 27 comes into abutment therewith.

The carton 1 1 when received by the cradle 12 is supported by two arms 59 and 50' (FIGS. 1-4) located intermediate the bars 24 and 24 and respectively adjacent thereto. The arms 50 and 50' are pivotally mounted upon pivot bolts 51 and 51, received in the upper ends of opposed legs 52 and 52 (FIG. 4) of a U-shaped strap 54 bolted to the bars 30 and 30', respectively. Associated with the arms 50 and 50 is a latch mechanism 56 (FIGS. 24) which when disengaged permits the arms 50 and 50 to pivot under the weight of a filled container from the position thereof shown in FIG. 2 into the position shown in FIG. 3. The bars 30 and 30' of the cradle are provided with four pairs of oppositely disposed rollers 58 mounted on bolts 60 (FIGS. 1 and 2) projecting outward from said bars, and arranged to form a downwardly inclined conveyor for receiving the filled container when the arms 50 and 50' are pivoted into their position shown in FIG. 3, and for delivering said container to the take-off conveyor 16.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the latch mechanism 56 is mounted between two spaced, vertical plates 62 and 62' secured to an angle member 63 which interconnects the arms 50 and 50' (FIG. 4). Mounted between the latch support plates 62 and 62 and journaled at its respective ends therein is a pivot pin 64 upon which are pivoted the upper ends of two spaced, vertical latch plates 66 and 66 supporting a roller 68. Whereas both the pivot pin 64 and the roller 68 are at the upper ends of the plates 66, 66', it is to be observed that the roller is offset rearwardly from the pivot pin. The latch plates 66, 66 further support a latch dog 70 which extends between and is rigidly secured to their lower ends. The latch dog 70 is normally maintained in latching relation with the angle member 27 of the cradle 12, as shown in FIG. 2, by means of a spring 74 secured at one end to a tab 76 carried by the latch dog and at the other end to the transversely extending base 78 of the strap 54. The latch is adapted to be disengaged by the exertion of upward pressure on the roller 68, which pressure will cause the latch plates 66 and 66 to pivot into the position shown in FIG. 3, thereby ex- .panding the spring 74, removing the latch dog 70 from its position beneath the angle member 27, and permitting the arms 50 and 50 to pivot to their carton discharging position, as shown in FIG. 3.

The chute extension 14 is mounted for movement between the operative position shown in FIG. 2, in which its outlet end is downwardly inclined and its inlet end is in registry with the chute 18 for filling a carton Within the cradle 12, and the idle position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which it is upwardly inclined and its inlet end is raised above the chute 18. To enable such movement, the chute extension is provided with two pairs of transversely aligned rollers 80, 80 and 81, 81' (FIG. 4). The lower two rollers 80 and 80' are mounted on twosleeves 82 and 82', respectively, said sleeves being carried at the respective ends of a transversely extending shaft 83. The upper two rollers 81 and 81' are carried by two stub shafts 84 and 84' welded to and projecting laterally outward from two plates 85 and 85' secured to the chute extension side walls 86 and 86', respectively. The said plates have bores therethrough adjacent their lower ends, through which pass the ends of the shaft 83 hearing thereon the sleeves 82 and 82, respectively, the

:latter being welded to the plates. The rollers are adapted for movement along opposed tracks 88 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) mounted on the frame structure 20.

A chute closure gate 90 is also mounted for movement along the tracks 88, along with the chute extension 14. Secured to the outer surface of the gate 90 adjacent the upper end thereof is a sleeve 92 carried by the shaft 83 intermediate the sleeves 82 and 82 (FIG. 4). The chute closure gate 90 is at its lower end mounted by means of a sleeve 94 welded thereto and carried by a transversely extending shaft 95, said latter shaft hearing at its respective ends two sleeves 95' (FIG. 4) each which 'mounts a roller 96, each of which is movable along one 'of the tracks 88.

The gate 90 is movable with the chute extension 14 between a position below the chute 18 when the chute 4 extension is in operative position (FIG. 2) to a position for closing the chute when the chute extension is in idle position (FIG. 3).

The chute extension 14 is raised and lowered between its idle position shown in FIG. 2 and its inoperative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 by means of a device now to be described. The sleeve 94 is seated approximately midway between its ends within the convex upper distal end surfaces of two links 97 and 97' (FIGS. 2 and 4) which at their lower ends are bolted to a rod 98. The rod 98 is at its lower end pivotally connected by a crank pin 98 to the outer end of a crank arm 99 which at its inner end is secured to a transversely extending rotatable shaft 100 journaled in suitable bearing members 100' supported by the frame structure 20. The shaft 100 is rotated by means of a friction drive connection (not shown) to a sprocket wheel 101 which is constantly driven by means of a chain drive 102 connected to a. motor 103 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) mounted on the frame structure 20. The motor 103 is also utilized to operate the conveyor 16 by means of a chain and sprocket drive 104 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

A releasable stop mechanism 105 (FIGS. 4 and 5) i provided for preventing rotation of the shaft 100, except when movement of the crank arm 99 is desired. This mechanism operates in the manner of a half-revolution clutch. It includes a disk 106 which is secured to the shaft 100, and which bears a lug 107 projecting outwardly from its circumferential rim. A release member 108 is mounted for pivotal movement adjacent the disk 106 by means of a pivot pin 109 projecting horizontally from a vertical post 110 carried by a shelf portion 111 of the frame structure 20. The member 108 comprises an L-shaped portion having a generally vertical leg 112 pivotally supported on the pin 109, and a gen erally horizontal leg 113 connected at its outer end to the upper end of a tension spring 114 which at its lower end is secured to the shelf portion 111. A generally horizontal leg 115 is at one end secured to the upper end of the leg 112, and is at the other end connected by a link 116 to the plunger 117 of a solenoid 118 mounted on the frame structure 20, said leg 115 passing directly over the disk 106. Another generally horizontal leg 121 is secured to the lower end of the leg 112, and passes directly beneath the disk 106. The members 115 and 121 carry projections 122 and 123, respectively, which are adapted to alternately engage the lug 107 carried by the disk 106, and thereby interrupt rotation of the shaft The release member 108 is pivoted about the pin 109 when the solenoid 118 is either energized or de-energized, as will be explained hereinbelow. As seen in 'FIG. 6, the solenoid is in a circuit including two conductors 124 and 124' connected to a source of electric power, which circuit includes therein two switches 126 and 127 connected in parallel. The switch 126 is normally closed, and is adapted to be opened when a carton is received within the cradle 12, said switch 126 being mounted on the base 78 of the strap 54 and having an actuator arm 128 projecting upwardly into position to be held in switchopening position by a carton within the cradle 12. The switch 127 is normally open and is supported by the frame structure 20 in a position for closing by a transversely extending angle member 129 which is welded to the bars 30 and 30 of the cradle 12 adjacent the outer ends thereof (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3).

A horizontally projecting finger 130 is rigidly mounted on the rod 98 in position to engage the roller 68 of the latch mechanism 56 when the rod is moved from its position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3. In this manner the latch plates 66 and 66' are pivoted so as to disengage the latch dog 70 from the angle member 27 when the rod 98 moves upward, permitting the carton supporting arms 50 and 50' to pivot to their FIG. 3 position for discharge of a filled carton 11 from the cradle 12. The roller 68 is released from the finger 134) when the rod 98 returns to its lower position. Since this occurs after the carton has left the cradle and the arms 50 and 50' have been returned by gravity to their position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dog 70 of the latch mechanism is then returned by the spring 74 to latching engagement with the angle member 27.

Associated with the carton delivery conveyor is a mechanism for controlling the movement of empty cartons 11 from the conveyor 10 into the cradle 12. This mechanism comprises a U-shaped metal rod portion 132 positioned above and extending transversely of the conveyor 10 (FIG. 1), which rod portion merges at its ends with two longitudinally extending rod portions 134 and 134', the latter merging at their outer ends with two downwardly extending rod portions 136 and 136', respectively. The rod portions 136 and 136' are slidable adjacent their lower ends within bores through two guides 140 welded to vertical members 142 and 142', respectively, of the frame structure 20. Also mounted on the frame members 142 and 142' and located above the guides 140 are two pivotable slotted levers 144 and 144, each lever being normally downwardly inclined toward the cradle 12, having a curved undersurface, and terminating at its outer end in a point. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, levers 144 and 144' receive two pins 146 and 146 which pass through collars 148 and 148' carried by the downwardly extending rod portions 136 and 136', respectively.

The levers 144 and 1 44" are actuated by two abutment members 150 and 150' (FIG. 4), which project laterally from the ends of the angle member 129. The abutment members 150 and 150' are at their inner ends hingedly mounted on the forwardly projecting lfiange of the angle member 129, as shown at 151 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and at their outer ends project a short distance laterally outward from the angle member, as seen in FIG. 4. When the cradle 12 pivots upwardly, the abutment members 150 and 150' engage the undersurfaces of the levers 144 and 144', respectively, and are pressed fiat against the surface of the supporting flange of the angle member 129. This enables them to lift the vertical rod portions 136 and 136' together with the longitudinal rod portions 134 and 134 and the lateral rod portion 132. As the cradle continues its upward pivotal movement, the abutment members 150 and 150 slide past the pointed outer ends of the levers 144 and 144', allowing the latter to return to their original positions, and said abutment members then come into contact with two stop bars 152 (FIG. 1) and 152 (FIG. 2), mounted on the frame members 142 and 142', respectively. The stops 152 and 152, therefore, prevent the cradle from moving upward past the position (FIG. 1) in which it is adapted to receive an empty carton from the conveyor 11. When the cradle 12 pivots downward, the abutment members 150 and 150 are swung freely about their hinges by the levers 144 and 144', respectively, and thus slide past the latter without effect. 7

Projecting in an upstream direction from the transverse rod portion 132 are two spaced support straps 154 and 154' (FIG. 1) through which extend vertical rods 153 and 158, respectively. Each rod 158, 158 is adjustably secured to its associated strap by two nuts 156, one above and the other below the strap. The rods 158 and 158 support at their lower ends two longitudinally extending, horizontal tubes 160 and 160', which tubes slidably receive through their upstream end bolts 162 and 162', respectively. To the inner ends of the bolts 162, 162' are attached vertically extending stop fingers 164 and 164', respectively, which extend downward through slots (not shown) in the bases of the tubes. Compression springs 166 and 166 encircling the bolts 162 and 162, respectively, are compressed between the outer ends of the tubes 160 and 160 and the heads of the bolts, said springs urging the stop fingers 164 and 164 upstream of the con- G. veyor 10 and providing a resilient stop for cartons 11 proceeding along the conveyor.

Before beginning operation of the apparatus of the invention, the counterweights 38 and 38 are adjusted in their positionsalong the rods 40 and 40', so that they will, in cooperation with the counterweights 32 and 32', regulate movement of the cradle 12 during filling of the carton 11, whereby a desired weight of articles will have been filled into a carton when the cradle 12 has been pivoted into its discharge position. The chute extension 14 is, to begin with, in its idle position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the chute closure gate being disposed in closing relation across the lower end of the chute 18 as seen in FIG. 3. The motor 103 is placed in operation and articles such as apples are then fed into the chute 18 by any suitable means (not shown). The cradle 12 is initially positioned as shown in FIG.- 1, and an empty carton 11 is placed manually therein, a supply of empty cartons also being placed on the delivery conveyor 10. The cartons on the conveyor are held back by the stop fingers 164 and 164, which engage the rear wall of the forward carton on the supply conveyor 10.

The receipt of the empty carton by the cradle 12 results in opening the switch 126, consequent deenergization of the solenoid 118, and release of the disk 106 by the upper projection 122 of the stop mechanism 105. The drive shaft is thus permitted to rotate through one-half of a revolution, and the crank arm 99 and rod 9? draw the chute extension 14 and chute closure gate 90 downward into their positions shown in FIGURE 2. Articles are thus fed into the carton 11 from the chute extension 14, and the cradle 12 is pivoted downward under the increasing weight of the carton. During the downward movement of the carton, the abutment members 150 and 150 swing ineffectively on their hinges upon contact with the levers 144 and 145.

When the desired weight of articles has been filled into the carton, the cradle 12 will reach the position thereof shown in FIG. 2, in abutment with the stop member 49, and the angle member 129 will close the switch 127. Since at this time the switch 126 is open, the closure of the switch 127 will energize the solenoid 118. As a result, the disk 106 will be released by the lower projection 107, drive shaft 100 will rotate through one-half of a revolution, and the crank arm 99 and rod 98 will raise the chute extension 14 and the chute closure gate 90 into the positions thereof shown in FIG. 3. This upward movement of the rod 98 will bring the finger 130 into engagement with the latch roller 68, and will thus pivot the latch plates 66 and 66 into their position shown in FIG. 3, in which the latch dog 70 is disengaged from the angle member 27. The carton supporting arms 50 and 50 on the cradle 12 will then be free to pivot so as to allow the carton 11 to move under its own weight along the rollers 58 and onto the take-off conveyor 16.

When the cradle 12 is thus relieved of the weight of the carton, the cradle will be pivoted upwardly by the counterweights 32, 32' and 38, 38' into its starting position shown in FIG. 1. As it is so pivoted, the abutment members 159 and will be brought to bear against the slotted levers 144 and 144, respectively. Thus, the box stop fingers 164 and 164' will be raised, permitting an empty carton 11 to be delivered into the cradle 12. At the same time, the upward pivotal movement of the cradle will be arrested by the stop members 152 and 152, and the empty carton received to begin a new cycle.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for filling articles into a container, con1- prising a supply chute for feeding articles to the apparatus including an extension adapted to receive the articles,

said extension being movable between an operative position for filling the articles into the container and an inoperative position for withholding the articles therefrom, a rotatable shaft, means interconnecting said chute extension and said rotatable shaft and adapted to move the chute extension from one of its said positions to the other with each one-half revolution of said shaft, friction drive means for rotating said shaft, a releasable stop mechanism for preventing rotation of said shaft and operable to release said shaft for movement in increments of one-half of a revolution, a container support member movable between a first position for receiving the container to be filled and a second position for discharging the container after filling thereof, means for operating said releasable stop mechanism in response to receipt of a container by said container support member to release said shaft and thereby move said chute extension into its operative position, and means for operating said releasable stop mechanism in response to movement of said container support member into its said second position to release said shaft for another one-half revolution and thereby move said chute extension into its inoperative position.

2. Container filling apparatus, comprising supply means movable between an operative position for filling articles into a container and an inoperative position for withholding articles therefrom, a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, means including a crank arm rotatable by said shaft and adapted to move said supply means from one 8 of its positions to the other with each one-half revolution of said shaft, a rotatable disc secured to said shaft and having a radially projecting lug mounted on the circumferential rim thereof, a release member having two spaced parallel legs extending adjacent diametrically opposed points along the circumferential rim of said disc, said re lease member being pivotally mounted for movement in one direction to position one of said legs for engagement of the projection carriage thereby with said lug and in another direction to position the other of said legs for engagement of the projection carried thereby with said lug, whereby said disc and shaft will be rotated through one-half of a revolution when said release member is pivoted in either direction, and means for pivoting said release member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 556,258 Doble et a1 Nov. 10, 1896 618,384 Richards Jan. 24, 1899 887,343 McNeal May 12, 1908 1,162,002 Webber Nov. 30, 1915 1,558,668 Carter Oct. 27, 1925 1,893,622 Howard Jan. 10, 1933 2,027,261 Wright Jan. 7, 1936 2,116,895 Howard May 10, 1938 2,888,961 Haver et al June 2, 1959 2,896,384 Carlsen et a1. July 28, 1959 

